Britain scorned as easy haven for criminals

Belgium, the most militant of the four EU countries seeking General Pinochet's extradition, pledged yesterday to pursue the former dictator through the courts in Chile.

But it had decided against lodging an eleventh-hour appeal against the decision of the home secretary, Jack Straw, to allow him to return home.

Mr Straw's decision was met with similar resignation by the other three countries seeking extradition: Spain, France and Switzerland.

The Belgian foreign minister, Louis Michel, said: "We haven't reached the ultimate stage yet, namely making Pinochet accountable for his atrocious crimes. But we were able to demonstrate that a dictator is no longer out of the reach of justice."

He said the Chilean foreign minister, Juan Valdes, had asked him to pursue the case under Chilean law.

In Switzerland the public prosecutor, Bernard Bertossa, said there was no scope to appeal, but he condemned Mr Straw's decision and castigated Britain as "a comfortable haven for criminals". France, too, opted against an appeal.

Battling to the end, the Spanish magistrate who first ordered Gen Pinochet's arrest, made a last-ditch attempt to stop him leaving Britain.

Within minutes of Mr Straw's announcement, Judge Baltasar Garzon sent a nine-page fax to the crown prosecution service declaring his intention to appeal against the ruling. But Spain's foreign minister, Abel Matutes, reiterated as swiftly that he would not authorise the appeal.

"I am not angry but I do feel pain and sadness for Pinochet's victims," said Judge Garzon as he promised to maintain his international arrest warrant against Gen Pinochet and to continue his investigation of human rights violations during his 1973-90 rule.

"This has left a bitter taste in the mouth," said Mr Matutes. "We would all have wished to see the judicial process through to the very end."

His words were condemned as "arch hypocrisy" by the Socialist opposition, which has accused the government of going through the legal motions required by Judge Garzon's case while making every effort behind the scenes to prevent extradition.

"The government could have stopped this decision if it had backed Garzon's request for fresh medical tests to be carried out," said the Socialist party leader, Joaquin Almunia.

"The UK has seriously violated its international obligations to cooperate in the arrest, extradition and punishment of criminals," he said.

Many expressed scepticism that justice could be done in Chile. "No Chilean judge has dared bring charges against him, so there is no hope that he can be judged there," said Mr Garzon.

In the European parliament, the Green group called Mr Straw's decision "an historical error". The Socialist group said: "When we see Pinochet being shuttled back home, we see a loser not a winner."

The British Green MEP Jean Lambert said: "The UK is worried about the increasing number of asylum seekers fleeing human rights violations, yet the government appears to be protecting the perpetrators of such abuse.

"There can be no double standards. There is no mercy or compassion in this decision for the victims or their families. Those of us who believe that human rights should be upheld can only condemn the home secretary."

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